We are pleased to present the next in our weekly series introducing you to Internal Medicine’s Advanced Practice Providers. In addition to sharing information about where they work in the department, we asked them each to tell us a little bit about their “Why” (the sustaining pull for their work) and what relaxes them. (Read previous weeks’ installments.)

Amy Bader Takes, MSN, ARNP
Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine

Service: Respiratory Specialty and Comprehensive Care Unit (RSCCU)

Years with Internal Medicine: 2.5

Hometown: Solon, IA

My “WHY”: It is very gratifying to help patients with chronic lung disease—often with very activity-limiting symptoms—improve their quality and quantity of life. For those patients with advanced stage disease, I consider it a privilege to support them and their families through the emotionally difficult transition to comfort care.

What Relaxes Me: Boat rides on Lake MacBride and bike rides in Key West

Amy brings an upbeat, can-do attitude, which is a balm for my often cynical attitude. Admirably, she persists at trying to teach this old dog to see the positive amongst all the problems.

— Douglas Hornick, MD